Brief bag



Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRIEF BAG Ralph Rodgers, White Plains, N. Y.

Application May 11, 1951, Serial No. 225,838

(Cl. ISO-1.6)

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in brief bags.

Heretofore, it has been customary to provide brief bags with a very narrow flap about two inches wide upon which the keeper element of a multiple bolt lock is mounted in order that the brief bag may be latched closed. This construction is deficient in the fact that often the brief bag is so full of papers, or other items, that it does not close completely and then the narrow flap is incapable of protecting the papers or other items in the bag from rain and the elements. The main reason that the flap is made so narrow is that if it were made as wide as the bag it would be awkward to handle. When the brief bag is closed the end portions would be free to flap, and when the brief bag is open the large flap will look unsightly and be in the way when the brief bag is handled to remove and replace papers or other items.

This invention particularly proposes a new construction wherein a wide flap i used on the brief bag. This flap extends from one end to the other, and when the brief bag is closed, said flap fully protects the contents of the bag from the elements even though the brief bag is so full of papers and objects that it does not close completely. In order that the wide flap is not impractical it is proposed to provide a flexibleleaf spring mounted beneath the flap in a certain way so as to be capable of movin the flap to a substantially vertically upwardly directed position when the brief bag is open. It is further proposed to reinforce and stiffen the free edge of the flap so that the corner portions will not be loose when the brief bag is closed. The stiffening means also serves to hold the corner portions rigid When the flap is in its open position.

An important feature of this invention resides in the location of the flexible leaf spring which a erence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a brief bag constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrated in an open position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The brief bag, in accordance with thi invention, includes a bag I0 having a front 8, a back 9 and an open top II provided with inverted U- shaped rigid frames I2 and I3. These frames are pivotally connected together at the bottom ends of their arms with pintle I4. The inverted U-shaped frame I2 is attached along the front side of the open top I I. The inverted U-shaped frame I3 is attached along the back side of the open top II. The front U-shaped frame I2 is slightly smaller than the back U-shaped frame I3 so as to fit into the back frame I3 when the brief bag is fully closed.

A wide flap I5 is attached along the back side of the open top I I and is adapted to extend down and over the to portion of the front 8 of the bag I0. A movable bolt look It is mounted on the front face of the bag Ill mid-way between the ends of the bag. This movable bolt look It is cooperative with a keeper element I! mounted on the center of the edge portion of the flap I5 for holding the flap I5 closed, in several selected positions, depending merely upon the engagement of the keeper element II in one or another of the opening I8 of the lock I6.

A flexible leaf spring 20 is mounted on the center of the top of said U-shaped frame it which is attached to the back side of the open top II. This leaf spring 20 extends along the inside face of the flap I5 to a point close to the keeper element H. Said flexible leaf spring 20 serves to normally urge the flap I5 upwards into a substantially vertically upwardly directed position, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A pocket 2| is attached to the inside face of the flap I5 and receives the top portion of the spring 20 for connecting the flap I5 with the spring 20. This pocket 2I comprises merely a strip of leather or other flexible material which is attached along its sides and its top by stitches 22 engaging the flap I5. The bottom of the pocket 2| is open so that the spring 20 may extend into it.

The bottom portion of the spring 20 is formed with a clamp portion 23 which clamps upon the top of the inverted U-shaped frame I3. Several fastening elements 24 engage through this clamp portion 23 and through the top of the frame I3 for securely mounting the leaf spring 20 in position. The clamp portion 23 of the spring 20 continues into a bottom end hook portion 25 into which the center of the top of said inverted U- shaped frame I2 will engage when the bag is fully closed. This bottom end hook portion 25 serves to support the center of the inverted U- shaped frame l2 so that it, may not be pressed downwards accidentally tending to open the brief has.

A stiffening strip 26 is attached across the free side of the flap i and is disposed at right angles to the leaf spring 20 and serves to support, the corners of the flap I5 when said flap I5 is supported in an upward position by the spring 20. Furthermore, the stiffening strip 26 prevents the corners of the flap from bending upwards when the flap i5 is closed.

The operation and use of the new brief bag may be understood from the following:

The brief bag is illustrated in an open position. It may be packed full of papers and other objects. It may be closed in the usual way by bending the flap i5 downwards so as to engage the keeper element H with one of the openings 18 of the multiple bolt lock Hi. In the closed position of the flap 15 the stiffening strip 26 will hold the corners of the flap if; from bending upwards. An important feature of the new brief bag resides in the fact that the wide flap !5 serves to fully protect the contents of the brief bag even though it is so full that the inverted U-shaped frames (2 and i3 cannot close one into the other.

It is another feature of this invention that when the flap I5 is opened the spring 26 will urge the flap l5 into the upwardly directed position shown in Fig. 2 and support the flap IS in this position. The stiffening strip 26 cooperates with the spring in properly supporting the flap l5, as desired. In this open position of the flap 15 papers and other objects may be easily engaged and removed from the brief bag. The flap 15 may be closed merely by forcingit downwards so that the leaf spring 20 flexes around and downwards. The bottom end hook portion serves to support the center of the inverted U-shaped frame 12 when the brief bag is fully closed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A brief bag, comprising a bag having an open top provided with inverted U-shaped rigid frames pivotally connected together at the bottom ends of their arms and attached to said open top along the front and back sides thereof, one of said frames being smaller than the other frame and being mounted between the arms of said other frame to nest therein when the frames are swung to closed position, thereby closing the open top of the bag, a flap attached along the back side of said open top and adapted to extend over and down the top portion of the front of said bag, a multiple bolt lock mounted on the front face of said bag midway between its ends and cooperative with a keeper element mounted on the center of the edge portion of said flap for holding said flap closed in several selective positions, a flexible leaf spring mounted on the center of the top of said U-shaped frame which is attached to the back side of said open top and extending along the inside face of said flap to a point close to said keeper element for urging said flap open to a substantially vertically upwardly directed position, and a pocket attached to the inside face of said flap and receiving the top portion of said spring for connecting said flap with said spring.

2. A brief bag as defined in claim 1, in which a stiffening strip is attached across the free side of said flap and at right angles to said leaf spring for supporting the corners of said flap when said flap is supported in a vertical position by said spring.

RALPH RODGERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

